11.20.07
Emily Sturgill
757-864-7022, 804-647-7668 (mobile)
emily.r.sturgill@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: 07-060
NASA GOES BACK TO SCHOOL AT LEBANON MIDDLE
LEBANON, Ky. - On Tuesday, Nov. 27, representatives from NASA will
spend the day with students and teachers of Lebanon Middle School.
Former astronaut Roger Crouch, NASA Langley's Deputy Director Stephen
Jurczyk and others will help kick off a newly established educational
partnership through the NASA Explorer Schools (NES) program.
Lebanon Middle was one of only 25 schools in the nation to be selected
as a 2007 NASA Explorer School. The partnership between NASA and
Lebanon was formally announced in May.
"The interest in science has never been so genuine," said Karen Cobb,
teacher and NES team member at Lebanon Middle. "In some respect, the
atmosphere is almost like being at a different school. The teachers,
students and parents are very excited about being associated with an
organization like NASA."
What: Student Assembly
When: 10:00 a.m.
Who: Former astronaut Roger Crouch and NASA Langley's Deputy Director
Stephen Jurczyk
Where: Lebanon Middle School
What: Family Night
When: 6:00 p.m.
Who: Former astronaut Roger Crouch and NASA Langley's Deputy Director
Stephen Jurczyk
Where: Lebanon Middle School
Media interested in covering the events or arranging interviews with
Roger Crouch and Stephen Jurczyk should contact Emily Sturgill at
804-647-7668 or Daniel Imes at 270-692-3441 by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov.
26.
Crouch spent over 470 hours in space as a payload specialist on
shuttle missions STS-83 and STS-94, and worked at NASA for over 40
years as a leading scientist for many projects. He was the senior
scientist for the International Space Station from 2000-2004, the
senior scientist for the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences at
NASA Headquarters from 1998-2000, the lead scientist of the
Microgravity Space and Applications Division from 1985-1996 and a
group leader and researcher at NASA Langley Research Center from
1962-1985.
Stephen Jurczyk, deputy director of NASA's Langley Research Center in
Hampton, Va., assists in the general management of the center and
acts with the authority of the director in her absence. He plans,
organizes and directs center activities to advance research
significant to national aerospace programs and objectives. Prior to
his current position, Jurczyk was the director of the Research and
Technology Directorate. He began his career at Langley in 1988 as an
electronics engineer in the Electronic Systems Branch where he
developed advanced electronic systems for several atmospheric remote
sensing instruments and space data systems. Jurczyk was also the
manager of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission at NASA
Headquarters, the Spacecraft Systems Manager for the Landsat 7
Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the head of the
Electronic Systems Branch in the Aerospace Electronics Systems
Division at Langley, the deputy director for Flight Systems in
Langley's Systems Engineering Competency and the director of the
Systems Engineering Competency.
The NASA Explorer School program provides exciting experiences for
both students and teachers and supplies schools with classroom
resources and innovative technology based on NASA's missions and
discoveries. Since 2003, the program has been establishing three-year
partnerships with schools across the country to develop the nation's
future science, technology, engineering and mathematics work force.
There are now 200 teams, representing all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Over the next three years, Lebanon Middle School students will
participate in digital conferences with NASA scientists and
engineers. NASA educators will also take hands-on activities to the
classroom to provide exciting learning experiences.
For more information on the NASA Explorer Schools Program, visit:
http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/
-end-